Observations Pt. VI

The iPad
A common object at Monte Vista, the iPad is used throughout the school  as a useful tool for learning. It is promoted by the school, paper (supposedly) has become extinct. Supposedly. The truth is, the majority of classes still use paper for something, sometime. And secretly, at this iPad-only school, almost everyone has a certain dislike of the iPad. "Have you ever seen this? It's...paper. Don't tell anyone we're using it." teachers whisper, as students iGnore esco and buy hardback, real-life copies of their textbooks, and girls hang up post-it notes of encouragement on bathroom mirrors. Why do so many have this aversion, and why does no one speak out about the truth? Is there a certain addictive quality to the iPad? Is there just enough merit to it for many for a protest to begin? Or are students and teachers afraid to "hurt" this iMage of a school where everyone is has access to and is in love with modern technology? And why, for that matter, has research not been done recently by the school to evaluate students' opinions on learning with such technological advancements? What is it that is keeping this minor, yet iNteresting "iSsue" silent among users?

Prepare Yourself For The Future
Whenever I was given a "hard" test in elementary school, I was told "We're preparing you for middle school." In middle school it wasn't any different. "We're preparing you for high school." And now in high school, anytime I have a research paper, I'm told "We're just preparing you for college." Preparation is good, but only to a certain extent. It quickly can become a worry that if students are not taught this now, they'll fail next year, rather than something new and interesting to learn. Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Why don't many teachers let students be in the grade they are and work at their level, living in the moment, rather than constantly looking to prepare for the future? And furthermore, why do we as a society constantly live towards moments, rather than in them? Four-year-olds can't wait to be five, elementary schoolers wish to be in high school, high school seniors just want to leave, college graduates are waiting till the day they get offered that one dream job...Is this something that is simply part of being human, or is this a bad habit that we continue to teach the younger generations through our actions?

Watch Out, You Might Get Mugged

Tea in a teacup, coffee in a mug, wine in a wineglass, pop (or "soda" to make this West Coast Appropriate) in a glass—certain drinks have been given specific cups to use when drinking them. But why has this rule been established by us? Why isn't it acceptable for me to drink my lemonade in a beautiful teacup, or my coffee in a wineglass for all to see? And who came up with these norms, for what reason? Do carbonated drinks taste that much better in a tall glass? Strange isn't it? I can already see you becoming glass-y-eyed at the mere thought of having root beer in a shot glass. Wait, why don't we do that actually? It'd limit sugar intake like shot glasses "limit" alcohol intake! Sorry, getting a cup-le of steps ahead of myself here. Cheers!